Marni von Wilpert’s Congressional Bid Tied to Stalled Labor-Law Reform

Former San Diego city-council member Marni von Wilpert is running for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Republican Darrell Issa. After a contentious Democratic primary, she will face Trump-endorsed county supervisor Jim Desmond in a newly redrawn district that now leans slightly Democratic. Polls indicate a near-even split between the two candidates. Desmond’s campaign did not respond to requests for comment.

The Guardian

Von Wilpert’s campaign centers on the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, a bill that would modernize the 1935 National Labor Relations Act. The legislation, drafted with Democratic Rep. Bobby Scott and Sen. Patty Murray, has been introduced in Congress every year since 2019, passed the House in 2021, and remains stalled in the Senate. Provisions would allow the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to impose monetary penalties on employers for labor violations and hold corporate executives personally liable.

The Guardian

Von Wilpert argues that the current labor system “rigs” outcomes against workers, citing long delays—often three to four years—for cases to reach Washington, D.C., during her tenure at the NLRB (2014-2017).

The Guardian

Desmond, by contrast, has opposed several pro-labor measures, including county-wide minimum-wage hikes for contracted workers and a contract addressing alleged abuse by county janitorial staff. He also opposed the creation of a county office for labor standards.

The Guardian

Desmond’s campaign declined to comment when approached for a response.

The Guardian

• “We wrote for hours what we would do to amend the National Labor Relations Act,” — Marni von Wilpert

The Guardian